Nothing makes us prouder at CTVS than when our physicians are recognized by fellow peers in the medical community and professional achievement.

This year we are pleased to share that not one, but two of our specialists have been named as Texas Monthly Super Doctors Rising Stars, cardiothoracic surgeon Dr. Brendan P. Dewan and vascular surgeon Dr. Nicolas Zea.

Additionally, one of our vascular surgeons, Dr. Jeffrey M. Apple has been named by Newsweek as one of America’s Best Vascular Surgeons 2024.

CTVS Super Doctors Rising Stars

Super Doctors Rising Stars are selected annually based on medical peer and patient reviews of physicians who have been in practice for less than 10 years. Only 2.5% of physicians in Texas are named to the Rising Stars list.

Super Doctors Rising Star Brendan P. Dewan, M.D., F.A.C.S.,  is a native of Austin. He completed his undergraduate degree at Duke University and earned his medical degree from the University of Texas Medical School at San Antonio. He fulfilled his general surgery training at Emory University School of Medicine in Atlanta, followed by cardiothoracic surgery training at the University of Colorado in Denver. Dr. Dewan moved back to Austin and joined Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgeons in 2018, and he is board-certified by the American Board of Thoracic Surgery.

Dr. Dewan specializes in adult acquired valvular heart disease including aortic root surgery, minimally invasive mitral and aortic valve operations, transcatheter valve replacement, thoracic aortic aneurysm and dissection repair, coronary revascularization and arrhythmia surgery.

Super Doctors Rising Star Nicolas Zea, M.D., R.P.V.I., F.A.C.S., was born and raised in Colombia and received his medical degree from Louisiana State University School of Medicine in New Orleans. He completed his general surgery internship and residency followed by a vascular surgery fellowship at Ochsner Clinic Foundation in New Orleans. He then spent five years with LSU Health Sciences Center and Tulane Medical Center prior to joining Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgeons in 2021. He is board-certified in vascular surgery by the American Board of Surgery.

Dr. Zea’s special interests include dialysis work, peripheral arterial disease (PAD), limb preservation and amputation prevention, carotid disease, aortic aneurysms, and surgical spine exposures.

Congratulations to Drs. Dewan and Zea! Your futures are bright, and we are eager to see your continued care and contributions benefit not only our patients here at CTVS but the greater medical community as well.

America’s Best Vascular Surgeons, 2024

Dr. Apple, who currently serves as our CTVS president, and is a board-certified vascular surgeon, has been in practice at CTVS since 2009. Newsweek selected him for national recognition based on physician performance data alongside an online survey of medical experts and quality-of-care scores from fellow peers.

Jeffrey M. Apple, M.D., F.A.C.S., is originally from Dallas and earned his medical degree at the University of Texas Health Science Center in San Antonio. He completed his general surgery residency at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas followed by a vascular surgery fellowship at Baylor University Medical Center in Dallas. Dr. Apple has practiced with Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgeons since 2009.

Additionally, he is a proud veteran who served four years in the United States Navy where he was a staff surgeon at the Naval Medical Center San Diego. During his time in the Navy, Dr. Apple was deployed twice to the Persian Gulf in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Dr. Apple’s special interests include the endovascular treatment of thoracic and abdominal aortic aneurysms, the treatment of varicose vein disease, and catheter-based procedures for arterial disease and deep vein thrombosis (DVT). He also has extensive experience with the treatment of DVT and Thoracic Outlet Syndrome.

In addition to his national Newsweek recognition, Dr. Apple holds many statewide honors including Texas Monthly Super Doctor and the Travis County Medical Society Frist Humanitarian Award (2022).

Kudos to Dr. Apple for his many years of care and service to our CTVS patients and the military community and for his numerous contributions to the field of vascular surgery.

For questions about any of our vascular, cardiac, or thoracic services, please visit ctvstexas.com or call us at (512) 459-8753 to schedule an appointment.

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